A pioneering new upper-limb rehabilitation project is set to begin at The Robert Jones and Agnes Hunt Orthopaedic Hospital (RJAH), thanks to support from the League of Friends.

The project will support the continued development and early clinical evaluation of ExoARM, a lightweight robotic rehabilitation device designed to help patients regain arm and hand function following neurological or musculoskeletal injury.

 Using advanced myoelectric technology, ExoARM is designed to enable intensive, consistent and engaging rehabilitation at a critical stage in recovery.

The funding will allow the project team to progress the current prototype to a clinically usable device, manufacture two fully functional units, and carry out a small-scale usability and performance study with five to seven selected patients at RJAH.

The project will be clinically led by Mr Simon Pickard, Consultant Orthopaedic Hand and Upper Limb Surgeon at RJAH, with device development led by Dr Heba Lakany, inventor of ExoARM and an academic specialising in myoelectric control systems and rehabilitation robotics.

The hospital Friends will make a financial contribution of £30,000 towards the project, with Dr Lakany also providing £30,000 in matched funding from personal funds, bringing the total project value to £60,000.

Mr Simon Pickard said: “This work represents an important step towards wider clinical use of advanced rehabilitation technologies.

“By hosting and shaping this early-stage clinical usability work, RJAH will be positioned at the forefront of assistive technology development, influencing future device design, clinical pathways and standards of care across the NHS.

“We are excited and grateful for the opportunity to take the proof of concept system into a clinical phase, which will give us data to support the further development of this exciting technology.”

The project builds directly on previous League of Friends support, which enabled the purchase of a commercial upper-limb exoskeleton and the delivery of an earlier pilot study at RJAH.

That work helped identify unmet patient needs and the limitations of existing commercial solutions, leading to the development of ExoARM as a more clinically responsive and affordable alternative.

Victoria Sugden, Friends CEO, said: “By supporting this next phase, the League of Friends will continue to play a vital role in championing clinically led innovation, helping to ensure future rehabilitation solutions are shaped by the needs of patients and staff and embedded directly into patient care.

“This project is a fantastic example of how charitable funding can help turn innovative ideas into improvements for patients – we’re proud to continue our partnership with the hospital.”

Photo caption: Mr Pickard with representatives from RJAH and the League of Friends during a demonstration of robotic ExoARM technology.